Pneumatic tube or chute.



H. P. KRAFT. PNEUMATIC TUBE 0R CHUTE.

. APFLICA'HON FILED MAR. 19. 1917- 1,290,758.

Patented Jan. 7,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET] INVENTOR j l 4 Attorneys,

H. P. KRAFT. PNEUMATIC TUBE OR CHUTE.

' v APPLICATION FlLED MAR.19,1917. 1 2993% Patented Jan. 7,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR .if m Z1... y Aiiorneys,

WITNE/SfSES ff/ZM/M/ HENRY P. KRAFT, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC TUBE on CHUTE.

Application filed March 19, 1917. Serial No. 155,820.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY P. KRAFT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Ridgewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Tubes or Chutes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic tubes or chutes, and aims to provide certain improvements therein.

In the use of pneumatic tubes or chutes it is customary to employ a carrier of cylindrical form, the rear end of which is provided with an opening for the insertion of papers or the like, and the forward end of which is formed with a packing of larger diameter than the rear end. In order that the carriers shall move accurately and without jamming, it is essential that they shall not be placed in the chute in a reverse direction, that is to say, with the rear end first. This is frequently disregarded either through accident or mistake in the use of the carriers, with the result that the latter often becomes jammed in the tubes, usually requiring that the latter shall be cut apart to remove the carrier and clear the systern. The present invention relates to a simple device for preventing the introduction of the carrier except in its proper position. To this end I provide a guard which does not permit the carrier to be inserted in its reverse position, such guard being adapted to be mounted upon or adjacent to the chute or tube.

In the drawings, wherein I have shown several forms of the invention,--

Figure 1 is a front view of a pneumatic chute, to the end of which is connected the guard provided by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

F Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 in 1g. I

Fig. 4.- is a front view of a guard adapted for use Where the insertion opening is between the ends of the tube.

Fig. 5 is 'a view partly in section, taken at right angles to Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view of another modification.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, let A indicate a section of tube forming a part of the chute, which in the view illustrated is its upper end; that is to say, the chute is not continued above the level indicated, but ex- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1919.

tends downwardly to points below. Upoing serted with its forward end downward, sols;

that its packing D lies at its lower end. The opening 0 in the guard is hence formed with an enlargement E at its bottom, while the main part of the opening is restricted as shown at F. At the top the carrier is usually provided with an enlargement G which acts to center the carrier, but the diameter of this part is less than that of the packing D. The. opening 0 in the guard is hence necessarily enlarged, as shown at H, but this enlargement is insufiicient to permit the entrance of the packing D. It results from this construction that the carrier can be inserted only with its forward end downward and all danger of its being reversely inserted is avoided. If carriers of two lengths are used, a second enlargement H is provided at the top, so as to accommodate a carrier of greater length.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the tube A does not terminate at the insertion opening J, but continues upwardly to the next story or beyond. Hence it is desirable to provide a branch A for the purpose of inserting the carrier. In such intermediate openings a valve or cover K is employed which is normally closed. The guard provided by the invention for use at such points is preferably curved, as shown at L, being bolted or otherwise secured to the tube. The guard is formed with an opening M, as before, provided with an enlargement N. In this case, however, the main part of the opening is preferably of suflicient width to permit the introduction of the end G of the carrier, while being of insuflicient width to permit the introduction of the packing D. The carrier is inserted in this construction by lifting the cover K and inserting the lower end of the carrier through the enlargement N to a point where it fits into the opening J, whereupon the remainder of the carrier will pass through the opening M. The operation is illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 illustrates the construction in which In the drawing the openings];

the guard is mounted at the lower end of the tube instead of at the top, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8. In this case the opening through the guard is reversed, since the ad- 'g vancing end of the carrier is under these conditions pointed upwardly.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the constructions illustrated, but may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

- What I claim is 1. A pneumatic carrier conducting tube having a guard opening of irregular shape, corresponding to the cross-section of the 15- large end of a carrier when inserted in proper position, and extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the conducting tube, whereby the carrier is inserted by a bodily movement laterally of 20 itself, until it is in position to enter the tube. 2. A pneumatic carrier conducting tube having a guard opening larger at one end and smaller at the other end to conform to the cross sectional shape ,of the large end of a carrier when inserted in proper position and extending crosswise of the conducting tube, whereby the carrier is inserted by bodil movement laterally of itself and of the tu e, until it is in position to enter the tube.

3. A pneumatic carrier conducting tube having a guard opening including an enlarged portion corresponding to the larger end of the carrier and restricted portions to obstruct the carrier and prevent insertion of the latter except when in proper position, said opening extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the conducting tube, whereby the carrier is inserted by a bodily movement laterally of itself.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

HENRY P. KRAFT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

